MP Govt extends deadline for accepting rehab package till August 16

The state government has extended the deadline for accepting rehabilitation package for the Omkareshwar dam affected people to August 16 from the earlier deadline of July 15.

The affected persons are expected to break their existing houses till the deadline to get the overall package of Rs 225 crore announced by the state government.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan, which recently held a five-day agitation cum hunger strike in Bhopal on this and other issues of dam affected people of Narmada Valley, has termed the extension as insufficient.

Alok Agrawal of NBA has reiterated that according to Supreme Court ruling, the rehabilitation rights should be given six months prior to displacement or the current deadline should be extended till October 30.

Agrawal has said that the rainy season lasts till September 15 and in such situation, it would be difficult for the people to break their houses and settle elsewhere.

A hearing of a petition in this regard (extension of deadlines) is coming up at MP High Court on July 8.

The NBA has also demanded that the displaced persons of Omkareshwar, Indira Sagar, Maheshwar, Maan and Upper Beda projects should be given land for land and minimum five acre land and landless people should be given Rs 2.5 lakh cash compensation.

Also the houses and lands in submergence areas should be acquired and compensation and rehabilitation packages provided accordingly.

Agrawal has warned that the agitation on these issues would be intensified in near future.